Structurally sound college building was demolished. Now, a school will be built on the same Radcliffe site.
The plan is to use temporary buildings for the PRU. Bury Council approved the temporary buildings. About 50 students will attend. Councillors suggest the old building could have worked.
The site is on Whittaker Street in Radcliffe. It used to be Radcliffe Technical College. It later became council offices. They need more school space. The former Spring Lane School moved, allowing a new secondary school in Radcliffe.
They still need facilities for sports and science. The current PRU is split across four buildings. The old technical college was a two-story brick building with a slate roof. It was torn down in 2023.
One councillor is frustrated by the demolition and thinks it was short-sighted. He said the old building was beautiful. Now, they are spending money to rebuild and taxpayers are paying for a temporary site.
Another councillor said they re-roofed it, then knocked it down. He called it a good, solid building. Councillors feel it was embarrassing. Residents might be frustrated too.
The PRU will have about 50 students enrolled, with about 25 to 30 attending at once. Some will be there in the morning, others in the afternoon.
The PRU helps students who struggle in regular schools and need more support. The site is now unused, a gravel area in a residential area. Temporary buildings will be there for four years, providing space for students.
The temporary buildings have minimal impact and are set back from the road. They will reduce visual impact on homes. Around 15 staff members will work there. The PRU will ensure education continues while they construct a new site later.